Progress (and more philosophy!)

Not much time for sketching this week. Well, plenty of sketching out written ideas for clients, but little of the pencil variety. Instead I share with you some progress made on the wonky-eyed wench I submitted for Sunday Sketches last week.

Well, as you can see, she's no longer a sketch! She's levelled herself off a bit now too - although she teetered a bit this way and that before she settled (probably the wine)... She also kept up the philosophy chit chat which was an unusual experience. I mean, I'm used to my paintings talking to me - mostly moaning that the paintbrush is tickling them or that their clothes don't quite fit; but spouting Descartes' "I think; therefore I am" and discussing the geometrical proportions of the composition was truly something new!

While she was thinking, the wench also decided she's still far from done and still requires a certain je ne sais quoi (she's clearly been spending too much time reading French philosophers and needs to get out more!).

And so we will continue on her journey and apparent education. The aim of the exercise is to get her to turn up the other half her lip in a smile of satisfaction... We'll see!

I'm sharing with the Sunday Sketches again so see what they think of her 'improvements'.

How a wonky eye got me all philosophical

Last night in the half light while watching TV, I quite liked the direction this sketch was going.

This morning however, I see wonky, mis-shapen and out-of-proportion eyes and lips, narrow sloping shoulders (her dress will fall off if she's not careful!) and she's too mournful looking. I'm not happy either! Time for the eraser!

I'm fine about starting again at this stage. It's only the preliminary sketch after all. It's when you've put the hours of effort in that makes it all the harder. I have a 'finished' painting I've had on my wall for months that I've only just noticed has out of sync features. I'm a little scared to cover up those soulful eyes... but now I see the problem I know I have to.

It's a metaphor for life of course too. Admitting to ourselves that we've taken a wrong path and despite all we've given that course, being brave enough to start afresh down a new one (or maybe just going back past that bend in the road and putting in some serious repair that goes well below surface dressing!).

What's interesting though is what we find on the other path. My marriage disintegration took me on a new romantic path (he's sleeping softly in the room next door. If I knew it wouldn't wake him, I'd nip in their and snuggle up....). When I was made redundant from a job I loved I chose to take a step along the road of self-employment and I haven't looked back.

I'm ready to start again on this sketch and have the faith that the painting I once loved is just waiting for me to take her on the next step to maturity - even now she's telling me that if I don't do it, she knows a plastic surgeon who will...

Posting for Sunday Sketches. Pop along to Blue Chair Diary and see what everyone else's pencils are teaching them!

Layers

Are you ever afraid to start again, to change your plans and goals? I was soaking up a blog post from Juliette Crane telling the story of one of her paintings. The final piece little resembled neither the original, nor presumably the intent but it was perfect.

My own style of painting too is slowly heading in this direction. I'm no longer so precious about sticking to an original plan or idea - I cringe less when I paint over paintstakingly crafted layers. I let the work flow and tell its own story. There's almost something comforting in knowing what's underneath the layers - parts of the process - beginnings, lessons learned and past history. When I'm brave and paint over my creation it's often a tough move. What am I thinking of? What am I destroying in trying to create something better? Inevitably though, just like Juliette, I find the results worth the pain and mental anguish.

It's life really. We set sail with a destination in mind, but the winds shift and off we go in a different direction. Should we panic and fret over what we thought should have been or embrace the adventure? I know what I prefer!